Travel with kite festivals

Why not take a delta kite or diamond kite with you on your travels? Modern flat kites pack down into a small thin carry bag. There are several good reasons to take a kite of some sort with you on your next international trip.

Firstly, no matter where and when you travel overseas, you probably aren't far from a kite fly-in or festival of some sort. These events almost always allow public participation. Depending on who you are, you might enjoy the opportunities to take great photographs, meet people, or just revel in the kite flying! You might even learn a bit about the traditional kites of the host country. Have something different to document in photos or video!

Secondly, most single and dual-line kites these days are lightweight and very easy to transport in their carry bags. Not only that, but some designs such as parafoils and simple sleds require no set-up at all. These flexible kites pack down into a small bag and only need to have a line attached to be ready to fly. Even other types such as deltas, diamonds and stunt kites are generally very straight-forward to setup before flying. For example, a delta kite is easiest, only requiring the ends of a single spreader rod to be plugged in.

Thirdly, the simple pleasures of kite flying are available just about anywhere, anytime. Any beach is a good spot to pull out a kite and fly. Sea breezes are less variable than inland. Parks and reserves also have wide open spaces, although you might need to fly high above the surrounding obstacles to find smoother air. Be aware that some countries are stricter than others when it comes to airspace regulations. If you keep a good distance from airports and keep the kite under 100 meters (350 feet), you'll stay out of trouble just about anywhere. Australia is one of the strictest countries in this regard.

On the subject of kite festivals, there are a number of large international events that can provide an awesome visual feast. See close-up everything from kids flying simple sleds to enormous show kites that cost as much as a second hand car! You might also catch performances by highly skilled stunt kite fliers and teams.

Major Kite Festivals Around The World

Consider passing through one of the following cities to catch an amazing event, and perhaps pull out that delta kite while you are there...

• Jan: Ahmedabad, India
• Feb: Basant, Pakistan
• Mar: Adelaide, Australia
• Apr: Weifang, China
• May: Hamamatsu, Japan
• Jun: Fano, Denmark
• Jul: Bali, Indonesia
• Aug: Bristol, U.K.
• Sep: Dieppe, France
• Oct: Coolum, Australia
• Nov: Santiago, Guatemala
• Dec: Sorry! Unable to find a major festival in December

Of course, you would need to confirm the exact dates of the event and the location of the city before departing. That's easily done online. Also, searching online for more information on say, Hamamatsu Kite Festival or Santiago Kite Festival will reveal breathtaking worlds of kiting you never knew existed! Spectacular large kites from many cultures and intriguing histories abound.

All the above events are large in terms of the number of kites flown and the number of participants and spectators. In many cases, international kite designers and fliers are present at the invitation of the organizers. This is often the case even when the word 'International' is missing from the title of the event.

The U.S. scene really warrants a separate article. It would be possible to travel around the U.S. all year and fly your delta kite at a different event nearly every week!

Conclusion

I hope the list of 11 major festivals with month, city and country are useful to you as an international traveler. There are incredible kiting cultures everywhere across the globe. Sizes, shapes, designs and colors you can't imagine until you see them. Even if you are not a keen flier, think of the entertainment value and memories gained for no extra cost! Bring all this home in your head and in the memory cards of your photographic devices.

Let kite flying add an extra dimension to your next overseas trip. Go on, fly a delta kite in foreign skies!

Kite Designs

Kite flying has been a pass time for many people for hundreds of years and it is still very popular today. If you go to the beach in the summer you will see many people flying kites and the kite designs can vary immensely.

For most people the classic kite design consists of two skewers or poles fixed together at right angles with the horizontal pole shorter than the vertical one. This is then covered with cloth or plastic and is flown with a single line and sometimes comes with a tail. This is the very basic kite design and is very easy to make. Many children start out flying this type of kite as it is easy to fly and can fly in a slight breeze.

Stunt kites started to become popular in the seventies and are still one of the most popular kite designs bought today.

The stunt kite can look very much like the single line kite but comes with two lines with which you can control the kite in the air. One line is connected to the right side of the kite and the other is connected to the left. You hold one of the lines in each hand and when the kite is flying you can control how it turns in the air by pulling on the lines. Pull the left line and it turns to the left and pull the right line and it turns to the right. If you pull on both lines together the kite will gain altitude in the right wind.

You can perform many tricks and stunts with these kites and that is why they are very popular. They do need a slightly higher wind than the single line kite does and you will need more space when flying as you don't want to hit any body that may stray beneath your flying area.

Due to their nature stunt kite designs can vary quite a lot form the single line kites. Because you have control over the flying of the stunt kite in the air the designs can be more unconventional and extreme.

Another variation of the stunt kite is the traction kite. This kite design uses a very large surface area which produces a huge amount of power or pull. These kites are for more experienced kite flyers as they can literally lift you off your feet because their huge surface area can capture so much of the power of the wind.

Kite surfing

Kite surfing began as a leisure sport in the 1980s. However, its popularity skyrocketed some twenty years later. In 2005, the number of kite surfers measured 100,000, an amazing increase from less than 1,000 before the turn of the millennium. This sport is also known as kiteboarding and flysurfing in some European countries.

The basic principle of kitesurfing is straightforward: by using a big, powerful kite as a means of propulsion, and sitting or standing in some form of transport, the kitesurfer can reach extreme speeds and perform acrobatic stunts. Commonly, kitesurfing is done using a surfboard on water.

Kiteskiing, another form of kite surfing, is also gaining in popularity. This is performed with skis or a snowboard. In truth, any object capable of moving outdoors and requiring propulsion can be accompanied by a big kite to generate the required power.

Kites that are used in kitesurfing are substantial in size. They are known as power kites. Today, there are three major types of power kites. The first is the airfoil kite, which comes with no interior structure. Thus, the kite’s shape is dependant on the wind acting upon it. They can be launched quickly and come with valves that allow the release of air should there be a spill. Difficult to comprehend initially, they can be rather easy to use once understood properly.

Inflatable kites have an inflatable edge that helps in forming and maintaining the kite’s crescent shape. In favorable wind conditions, they can be comfortably launched. However, a little wind can make launching difficult.

Framed kites have a rigid edge of fiberglass or graphite that helps in forming the shape of the kite, and by and large have chiseled aerodynamic forms. Low wind conditions can make the launching of framed kites a difficult matter.

Kitesurfing kites are either two-lined or four-lined. They come with one control bar or different handles to control the various lines. Though the kites are initially difficult to control, kitesurfers can, over time, exhibit incredible acrobatic feats.

Kitesurfing can be classified as a dangerous sport, and people looking at venturing into the world of kitesurfing should do so with adequate lessons. Generally, people tend to underestimate the power that can be generated by a kite. People have lost their lives while engaging in this sport; and kitesurfers have also been reported to have been blown to the sea and drowned.

Type of stunt kite

Stunt Kites

Stunt kites, also known as sport or acrobatic kites, offer the pilot the ability to steer the kite and perform tricks. Two lines (at a fixed length) control the kite, similar to steering a bicycle. The two flying lines are connected to handles or straps on one end and connected to the bridle of the kite on the opposite end of the line. You control the kite by pulling in one line to make it turn in that direction, if you pull the right hand line the kite will turn to the right. These kites are easy to learn how to fly but tough to master.

Beginner Stunt Kites

Entry level stunt kites are easy to fly, stable, rugged and forgiving enough to handle to handle crashes as you learn to fly your kite. Despite being designed for beginners these kites are very acrobatic and you can learn to perform many popular tricks with them.

Freestyle Stunt Kites

Extreme acrobatic stunt kites, freestyle kites are designed to do all of the radical tricks in the book (540 flat spins, axels, back flips, stalls, ground effects, etc). Freestyle kites are a good choice for flyers of all skill levels who like to challenge themselves.

Ballet Stunt Kites

The most versatile stunt kites on the market. Designed for competition these full sized kites are agile, acrobatic, steady, and precise. Though competition worthy stunt kites are generally more expensive, their versatility makes them a good choice for serious flyers who want to do everything with just one kite

Low Wind Stunt Kites

Sophisticated in design, shape, materials, and performance, just walking backward with an ultralight kite in a still room or on a windless day creates enough airflow to allow the kite to glide over and fly around you. Indoor and low wind flying is a graceful, fluid dance in which kite and pilot are partners in a whole new repertoire of maneuvers.

Dual Line Parafoil Kites

Dual line parafoil kites perform just like a two line stunt kite with one difference "The Pull". What to expect from a dual line parafoil? Well besides a whole lot of fun, you get a virtually unbreakable dual line power kite! If you like speed and the raw power of kites, two line foils are what you are looking for.

Kite for beginner

Cadet is first in class in any wind.
A laid back, easy flier in winds from 3 to 30 mph, the Cadet is effortless to assemble, launch and fly. Its excellent response, precision and wind range make it a real deal. A natural in 3 to 18 mph winds, it comes with a free WindShield (a $6.95 value - see page 10). that lets it handle winds up to 30 mph. Made of lightweight ripstop nylon with tubular micro-carbon spars. 5’-4” x 2’-0”. 3.9-oz. Ready to Fly with 80’ 50-lb. Dyneema line, straps and winder.

More Product Details

Ready to Fly: with lines, winder & stunt straps Min. Wind: 3 mph Max. Wind: 18 mph Brand: Into The Wind Added to site: 02/09/2009

Getting started with stunt kites

Introduction

If you can ride a bicycle, you can fly a sport kite. Everyone knows how to steer a bike, don’t they? You turn the handle bar to the right, and the bike goes right. Keep steering right, and the bike completes a circle. Straighten out the handle bar and the bike goes straight in whatever direction you are pointing. It’s easy. So keep that image in your mind and lets go kite flying.

Kite Safety

OK, now its time to talk about kite safety. Experienced fliers use something I call the “Pre-launch Checklist”. It’s becomes so natural that they don’t even think about it - like checking to make sure there are no cars in the street before you begin to pedal.

• Never fly near power lines or in thunderstorms
• Never fly near trees, houses or over roads or highways
• Be considerate to those people around you, and never fly a stunt kite over a person or animal. Stunt kites can move at speeds over 100 mph and can cause serious injury.

Kite Setup and Flying Line

For beginners, launching a stunt kite and getting it under control is almost as hard as mounting a bicycle and getting it rolling. After you do it right the first time, it gets much easier. Roll out your flying lines and make sure they are exactly equal in length. (If one line is a few inches shorter, the kite will think you are pulling on that line and start to turn.) The lines should be about 75-100 feet long. Shorter lines reduce response time and make the kite move too fast for most inexperienced fliers. Longer lines make maneuvers harder to complete.

Read more: http://www.windpowersports.com/guides/stunt-kite.html#ixzz0PTQJFEKw